The Purpose is Driving God Away

The Compromised Church seems to be growing larger and more powerful each day. The deceptions upon which it is based are becoming more and more accepted by Christians and their leaders at a rate that is astonishing. It is as if the great deception, which was prophesied in the Bible, is upon us. The Spiritual Blindness is deepening. What was once considered heresy or egregious sin is now accepted with open arms in the Compromised Church. These facts can be very discouraging to discerning believers whose spiritual eyes and ears are open. What is going on? This post from Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries is a must read. I would further add that it is an urgent message for the remmant.

15 thoughts on “The Purpose is Driving God Away”

Has the link to the post been broken? I’m not getting the reference article.

I think one of the outcomes of allowing unregenerate members into the churches is that you then have unregenerate people appoving potentially unregenerate men for the ministry and it’s all a slippery slope from there.

Is it a shock for us? Not really. We’re told to expect it. In fact Christ asked whether there’d be any faith when he returned. Now of course there will be, because there is a remnant.

Mike, thank you for posting this! It is timely and greatly needed! May God use it to draw men unto Himself.

Ken,
Thank you! The visible church is most definitely moving head long into the Apostasy. And as you clearly pointed out, even the best intentioned can be deceived. May God give us ears to hear.

Declaring the truth does not “win friends” does it? We know this all to well. But I am convinced that we are to declare truth. We are not to stop declaring the truth for at least two reasons: 1-because God commands it, and to do so glorifies Christ, who is TRUTH~! And 2- because the most loving thing we can do for anyone is to tell them the truth. By doing so, there is given an opportunity for repentance. We are NOT responsible for whether one repents or not, but we are responsible for whether or not we declare Truth!(and all of the truth not just points we like.) IF we truly love others we will risk losing their relationship, in order to share truth, with the hope that Christ will draw them to Himself! There is nothing we can do for them or give them that is more profitable.

Keep declaring the truth, Brother! May the Kingdom of God be furthered as a result!

Mike Young,
I wholeheartely agree! We have welcomed the goats in among the sheep…and then when they act like goats, we decide we need a revival. (like the goat can be revived into sheep.) The church is introuble. There is a weird combination of legalism, moralisms, gnosticism, antinomianism and New Age Philosophies that have permeated every area of the churches thinking. 1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Over the past few years I have spent much time on this and have taken much criticism for my views and for my emphasis. Most do not understand why I didn’t simply start a new church. In fact, I was asked by a few to go ahead and do so and they will come and join. Sure! Right!

The problem isn’t guys like Rick Warren. Don’t get me wrong, they are a problem, just not “the” problem.

Consider this passage from Paul in 2Tim 4:2-5:

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The problem is that we have these so called believers choosing false teachers who will give them the right mix of comfort and discomfort that they will continue in their ways without much issue. Possibly, they will even become better people in the process.

My hope and prayer, and the reason I continue on my course and keep preaching the same message, is that perhaps some God will raise some wheat amongst these tares and that they will desire to leave and covenant together with others whose eyes have been opened.

The notion of reforming churches and conventions is full of disappointment for God works on an individual basis and he does tell us to come out from among such unregenerate people.

I believe church membership is un Biblical. It is used to control and lock people in especially in the area of giving. But the greatest offense is that it gives people false assurance of their salvation. One of the tenents of membership is that you must be saved. How many of us have heard an evangelist say in a church, “You may even be a church member but are you saved?”. What is he saying? He is stating that your church has said you are saved but God says you are not. Wow. Think of the consequences of that. Mike,keep exposing the enormous compromise that continues to grow in the church!

I am currently churchless. My ex-pastor was going full steam ahead with implimenting the PDC. I challenged him biblically and was assured that he was going to back down, but then at the last deacon’s meeting I went to he made it clear that nothing had changed. He was going to make our church a PDC. That was it. I left after the sermon the next Sunday and have not been back. Was I wrong?

I think not. I have never felt closer to my Lord as I have since that day. I worship and praise him all through each day. I pray and I study my Bible. I also, post these things that I believe God wants me to so others will be edified and turn their hearts back to Him. My church membership actually hindered me in all of these things. I don’t think its a good thing to not have fellowship with other believers and I do miss that, but I also have fellowship with all of you. God is good and He isn’t legalistic (in the bad sense) about church membership.

Mike,
I was EXACTLY where you are and thought EXACTLY what you think, but then Jim reminded me that I do need a church and to go to one. He helped me find one and really I can’t thank Jim enough. I had forgotten what a good church was like and how much I needed one. So I’m going to give you his advice…keep looking and praying for one. God is faithful and will give you a church to go to…maybe start your own? I will add this to my prayer list for you and your family. God bless! PS. Some church out there is missing what you and your family can spiritually provide for them and you’re missing what they can give you!
As far as being a member of a church, I’ve never been a “member” of any church. The church I grew up in didn’t believe in it and I haven’t found one that I wanted to be a member of until now. I’m really considering it though but it will be awhile.

Mike, we are members of a growing phenomenon especially in the U.S.. There are also tens of millions of people who are completely empty in their present church who stay because of friendships, children’s ministries, and just avoiding the price of trying to find another fellowship. You will go through times of intimate fellowship with our Savior free from the activity cluttered eccelesiastical structure, but you will also feel the prompting of the Spirit to seek out other believers. Here is some humble advice. Stay patient and “wait on the Lord and He will renew your strength”. Make no move without a baptism of prayer no matter how your emotions dictate. If you have small children I suggest you find a church where at least they can find ministry for their souls on their level while you seek the future. Also, remember many people who are experiencing a discontent with what they have been getting at their church do not yet fully see it as we do. We went through a process before we got to where we now are. A prescription is taken one pill at a time, not all at once, and people will not understand much of what you share if it is given too quickly. Finally, and I sense that you are, use this time to desperately and diligently seek His face alone. God can draw you to a place that you would never have dreamed you could go in Him if you and I will stay humble, teachable, broken, and constantly thirsty for Him. I am convinced that if we do that the future church fellowship will be directed of the Lord. Remember, Luther didn’t just leave a church for another, he stepped out by faith like Abram not knowing where he was going even when the entire church was telling him he was headed for hell. Your writings will not be judged by how MANY people visit your blog, but by how they glorify the Risen Christ and from someone who has been richly edified, I humbly believe you are on the path that will one day redound to His glory alone. Dan.12:3 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the satrs for ever and ever.

Thanks, I am looking. I know how wonderful it is to be part of the right church and I do miss it. Keep praying for us.

Rick,

My children are grown. I will be 55 in a few months unless God takes me home before that. As long as I have been a Christian (since 1986) I have never been this long apart from a Church. I am just trusting God to put my wife and I in the right fellowship.

As I read that last part of your comment I am deeply humbled. I have been preaching to myself that numbers do not matter. In fact, what you said there is how each minister of the gospel should view what they do. That was very insightful on your part and I am glad you visit here and edify me and everyone else who visits here, with your wisdom and encouragment.

A couple of places to search for a church are founders.org and farese.com. another one is 9Marks, but it is probably the most relaxed of all in that the churches dont necessarily have to fit any certain criteria. We have had mixed results with these sites. In one state we found a great church, but in another, we have visited 3 without finding the right one. A fourth church we’ve visited is a plant by a pastor who attended John MacArthur’s masters seminary. (That website also has alumi information so you can find out where they are ministering.) But that fourth church has issues, too, so we are still looking. I keep wondering what the Lord is trying to show us in all of this? The lesson today is that God is sovereign. I do not understand why godly people who love the Lord are looking for a church and cannot find one when God tells us clearly in His word not to forsake assembling together. (I don’t think He meant online, though Mike I do understand how this fits your fellowship needs!) The fact is that God does things His way and in His timing, not mine. Somehow He is glorified in this difficulty. I cannot see it, but we walk by faith, so I continue to trust and pray. And remind myself of the Lord’s great faithfulness in the past.

When I approach the Lord in prayer about church, I get an overwhelming message to rest in Him and wait. So, for now I will continue to search, but will not commit to any body of believers until He leads me to. I visited a Sovereign Grace church about three weeks ago or so. Since then I have been traveling and my wife has been ill, so it’s been spotty. I will try to attend again this Sunday. Next weekend we will be traveling again so…

My favorite place of daily worship is my prayer closet. It has a Bible, hymnal and a prayer bench. My favorite time is the early morning hours when it is still dark and everyone is sleeping. The only occasional interruption is the cooing of morning doves. I spend a lot of the time in God’s Word, listening intently as He leads…along with time spent reading the old hymns that have not lost the meaningful truths of scripture and beautifully extol the attributes of God.

My husband is the spiritual leader in our home and God leads through him in decisions made regarding our church membership and ministry involvement. Sadly, if God were to call us out of public worship, it would not have a great impact on our lives of faith. But what do you think about Hebrews 10:25 which exhorts us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” I believe the Day is rapidly approaching… Do you think that God, knowing that the church would fall into apostasy, wanted the believing remnant to remain planted in the corporate church as a beacon for Christ? God has planted you, Mike, in the online church…for which I have become most grateful…and you are impacting the lives of many.

I start my day in my home office. Here I start by reading a prayer from “The Valley of Vision.” Then I write out my own prayer in my prayer journal. Then I read a devotional from Martin Luther’s “Fatih Alone.” Then I read from Ligioner Ministries “Tabletalk.” Then I eat breakfast and go to work. At work when I take my first break, I read my Bible using a read through the Bible plan. This isn’t static nor has it always been how I do it. The prayer portion is sweet, yet at times it can be tough work. I would like to spend more time in the Bible though. When I write in the evenings, I study passages and pray. I think God blesses both my morning and evening times of devotion. However, I am never “satisfied” with how much I pray or how much time I spend in the Bible. I think that is a good thing. :-)

Some have asked how I can write some of the things I write. Where does the knowledge come from? I can’t answer that. All I know is that I listen as I pray and read the Bible. Often I have gone back and reread a post or part of one of my books and am amazed because I don’t remember writing some of it. Amazing! I give all the glory to God.

You are right Jessica, God has planted me where I am just as he has planted you and everyone else where they are. One thing I would like to challenge each of you to do, if you aren’t already, start your day by asking God this, “Oh Lord, be glorified in me this day.” Then deliberatly seek His will in all that you do and think depending compeltly upon God’s grace and the Joy of the Lord to walk close with your saviour. Ask Him to open your eyes and ears because you are looking and listening. Worship Him all day in all that you do. Develop a Heavenward mindset by rejecting the secular one that is forced upon us by this world. Instead, shut off the TV, give God your free time. Lay your free time on the altar and get into the word or godly books.

Sorry, I did not mean to go on and on here. Being the Christian who has eyes to see and ears to hear is not automatic. We must jettison everything that comes between us and our devotion to God. It is not easy nor will it make us popular.

Did I learn any of this in church? Nope, none of that came from any preacher or SS class I have had. However, when I was a SS teacher I taught this stuff to my class. Preparing to teach this to disciples requires much prep time, much time in prayer and, much time in the Bible. And this may sound weird, but a huge part of this came to me as I walked about an hour a day. I walked and prayed and preached to myself while walking. Church is not the best environment to learn this anyway. It comes from discipleship. We have failed miserably in discipling new believers. I have discipled myself I suppose. Now, I disciple online. :-)

Please forgive me for going on and on and on….

In Christ

Mike Ratliff

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The Purpose of Possessing the Treasure is to be spiritual food for the suffering Church

Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. (Colossians 1:24-26 ESV)

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The way of escape

"To believe that He will preserve us is, indeed, a means of preservation. God will certainly preserve us, and make a way of escape for us out of the temptation, should we fall. We are to pray for what God has already promised. Our requests are to be regulated by His promises and commands. Faith embraces the promises and so finds relief." - John Owen

How to be free from bondage to our flesh and temptation

"If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: 'God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.' When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage." - John Owen

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About me

My name is Mike Ratliff. I am a δοῦλος (slave) of the Κύριον ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστόν (Lord Jesus Christ.) I have been a Bible teacher since the late 1980's. I am currently learning Koine Greek, which I began in 1992 and will continue to do so until the Lord takes me home. I am Reformed in my theology because I recognize that God is Sovereign over all things. I write these posts as God directs. I am also part of the discernment team at Christian Research Network.

OTHERS MAY, YOU CANNOT

by G. D. Watson

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.

God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.